Using this guidance
This page explains how to prepare a neighbourhood plan in Cornwall including the support we offer and our local expectations.
You should read this guidance alongside the Government's neighbourhood planning toolkit:
Neighbourhood planning toolkit
The national toolkit:
Explains the statutory process and legal requirements
Sets out the key stages of plan-making
Provides detailed guidance on specific topics (writing polices, SEA, site allocations)
Local guidance:
Explains how neighbourhood planning works in Cornwall
Highlights local requirements and experience
Provides practical advice and templates to make the process simpler
Adds more detail
What do you want to achieve with your Neighbourhood Plan?
Neighbourhood planning allows you to develop a shared vision and shape future development.
Start by identifying:
Key issues affecting your area
What you want to change
What you want to protect
What success looks like in the future
Think about:
How you want your places to evolve over time
What growth does your area need (homes, jobs, infrastructure)
How to improve quality of life
How do you meet the statutory requirements?
Neighbourhood plans must meet national basic conditions.
Your plan must:
Take account of national policy (NPPF)
Not contain policies that would restrict the development of housing to less than would be permitted without the neighbourhood plan
Contribute to sustainable development
Meet environmental requirements (eg SEA)
Reduce climate impacts and support the Local Nature Recovery Strategy
Demonstrate consideration of human rights and equality impacts
Full details are set out in the national guidance
How to create a neighbourhood plan
Keeping your plan focused
Our experience is that effective plans are:
Concise
Focused on key local issues
Supported by proportionate evidence
How to keep your neighbourhood plan simple
Timescales and commitment
Producing a neighbourhood plan is a significant undertaking.
In Cornwall:
Plans typically take around 5 years from designation to completion
Most work is carried out by local volunteers
As your plan progresses through the process it gains increasing weight. Once adopted it becomes part of the statutory development plan.
We provide free advice and guidance, comments at key stages, funding of the independent examination and referendum. Email us at neighbourhoodplanning@cornwall.gov.uk
How to Set up a Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group
Your Steering Group will help to lead the preparation of the neighbourhood plan and report to the qualifying body (town or parish council). We provide a local template and guidance to help you set up your steering group and define roles and responsibilities.
You must apply to us to designate your neighbourhood plan area. This is usually the parish or town boundary but you may choose to work jointly with a neighbouring area. We provide a local template and guidance to make it easier to prepare and submit your designation.
How to make your Neighbourhood Plan
Gathering evidence, engaging with your community, developing your vision and objectives and drafting planning policies. We provide a range of templates and practical guidance to help you apply the national guidance at this stage including working with young people, initial survey template, neighbourhood plan structure and format, understanding if your plan requires a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), SEA screening and assessment guidance and examples of other neighbourhood plans.
How to submit your Neighbourhood Plan
You must carry out a Regulation 14 Pre-submission consultation with your community and statutory consultees before submitting your plan. We have templates and guidance to help you submit your neighbourhood plan and supporting documents to us for validation.
An independent examiner will review your plan to ensure that it meets the basic conditions. We will arrange and fund the examination.
A local referendum will be held. If more than 50% of those voting support the plan, it can proceed to adoption.
Making (adoption), monitoring and review
Once adopted the neighbourhood plan becomes part of the statutory development plan and is used in planning decisions. Plans should be monitored and may need updating over time. We provide local templates and guidance to support this stage including responding to planning applications and reviewing and updating your neighbourhood plan.
Neighbourhood Plan (NDP) guide notes and templates
This section brings together our local guide notes and process templates for preparing a neighbourhood plan. The resources provide practical support to produce your plan and the supporting documents helping you to apply the national neighbourhood planning toolkit in a clear and consistent way. These templates should be used alongside national guidance.